Deuces wild deuces wildHe came my way to play the gameUp and down the river looking all the whileFor a man who plays poker with deuces wildHe's the man who plays poker with deuces wild

When I was just a lad before I turned badNo more than the age of tenI heard my poor old ma pleading with my paPlease don't go gambling again

Well known in New Orleans and along the river streamsAs destinies gambling childWith tattoos on his arm he had a good luck charmThe words were deuces wild

Deuces wild deuces wildHe came my way to play the gameHe's the man who played poker with deuces wildSoon he disappeared and then through the yearsMy ma slowly died in shameAs so as I was leaving I swore that I'd get evenWith him who gave me my name

So I began to deal on the Natchez KeelWho's Captain sure liked my styleRevenge was in my will I had to find and killThe man with deuces wild

Cut a card play it hard making myself a nameHe's the man who played poker with deuces wildMany years had passed and I lived them fastMy search set my soul on fireThey knew me up and down in every levy townAs one with a crazy desire

And with my own two hands I had to break the manWho gambled with such a smileI would put a bullet through the man with that tattooWho sure loved deuces wild

Up and down the river looking all the whileFor a man who plays poker with deuces wildHe's the man who plays poker with deuces wild

One day I played a hand with tough Dixie DanWho came up from Mobile wayWhen he saw he was beaten he said that I was cheatingHis gun quickly pushed the cards away

As I heard the bullet scream an old gent stepped betweenHe looked up and smiled and diedAnd tattooed on his arm I saw a good luck charmThe words were deuces wild

Deuces wild deuces wildHe came my way to play the gameCut a card play it hard making myself a nameUp and down the river looking all the whileLooking for a man who plays poker with deuces wild